*Mike Moloney.
FOR long enough Tulla Utd have been looking in from the outside on the big day, they’re eager to make the most of their first Clare Cup final appearance.
Tulla United manager Mike Moloney is, understandably, delighted to be leading his side into a first Clare Cup final.
“It’s the biggest day in the Clare soccer calendar. We have often been looking in from the outside, looking at Newmarket and Avenue and wanting to be there. That’s the progress we have been aiming for, we have been working hard for the last 15 to 20 years for this and this year has been great for the club. Getting to the cup final is a real sign that we are making strides”, he told The Clare Echo.
This year they have challenged for both honours in the Premier Division and Clare Cup. “We got promoted from the first division three years ago in second place. We had two real difficullt seasons There is no comparision between the pressure faced at the top from that faced at the bottom The pressure at the bottom is negative, whereas at the the top its lovely. What the lads have learned from two difficult seasons has been great”.
Having managed the vast bulk of the Tulla players at underage, he has observed their growth on and off the pitch. “Lads have become more mature now, all these guys are very young, the extra two or three years experience is a great start. We lost our first game this season but a run of wins followed and it has given massive confidence”.
Attitudes have also altered, he noted. “Lads are learning all the time. Half of our training now is about finishing. Shane Fogarty has come on board and is doing well, he has given us something different. Barry Murphy is doing wonders with the youths. The players attitudes have changed”.
“I came straight from having them at under 17 to having them at junior. The work going on in the clubis huge. My job is to jell the groups together, We have been on great trips together, to the UK ad Barcelona. I enjoy being around them. To get to this day is huge, most are still only 20, 21 or 22, we are right on track”.
According to the manager “it’s about making it count now Ray Bane (winner of a senior hurling medal with Feakle last year) said its all about taking your chance. Treat every semi final and final as if its your last one. We must now see can we bring it up a notch against one of the best clubs in Clare”
Mike first got involved with the club “back in 1984 when we lost to Hermitage in the cup semi-finaI I was player manager in 98 when we got to a cup semi-final. I did another stint in 2011, 12, and 13. I did have 2 years with Newmarket Celtic and won a cup medal with them in ‘96. They are a great club and we would love to emulate them”.
On the importance of the club’s history he said “if you don’t know where you are coming from you don’t know where you’re are going. It’s lovely to be creating another chapter now. This is about the playing side, achieving something on the pitch”.
Having lost in the cup semi-final in a shoot out to Lifford two years ago, the Tulla manager believes the East Clare club is “better ready now. Beating Bridge United in the semi-final was great preparation and that win in which we scored four goals will stand to us”.
“It’s the aim of our cub to bring lads through from our underage section and for every player coming through to have an adult team to play for. The young lads have role models now and being in the cup final gives them a great stepping stone. Winning is a habit and we want to keep winning”, he concluded.
